Year: 2025
Chamber Link – December edition now live!
Kia ora, As 2025 draws to a close, the December edition of Chamber Link is now live — a celebration of Southland business. Inside this edition: CEO Reflections Making Headlines Celebrating Success Latest Insights and business information Chamber News Business advocacy in action 👉 Click here to read Chamber Link – December 2025 We love […]
SIT is Back – Why Southland’s Institution Matters
The return of SIT to local autonomy is a defining moment for Southland. It is more than a governance change. It is the restoration of an institution that has long been central to our regional identity and economic strength. SIT has always been a strategic asset for Southland. It brings students into the region contributes […]
Southland Business Confidence Eases, but Regional Outlook Remains Stable
The latest Southland Business Confidence Survey (November 2025) shows confidence has eased this quarter, with businesses taking a more cautious view of both regional conditions and their own performance. This comes despite a lift in sentiment toward the New Zealand economy. A standout result this quarter is the unanimous confidence in the direction Southland is […]
Chamber Link – November edition now live!
Kia ora, A wrap of Southland business news, wins, and what’s next. This edition is packed with achievements, insights, and community highlights: From the CEO The Southern Edge Southland businesses making headlines Award wins at home and abroad Latest Insights and business information Chamber News Business advocacy in action Real stories from our members Upcoming […]
Chamber Link – October edition now live!
Kia ora, The October edition of Chamber Link is now live – and it’s packed with Southland business success, practical insights, and updates to support you and your business. 👉 Click here to read Chamber Link – October 2025 Inside this issue: Here’s a taste of what’s inside: From the CEO: Sheree Carey shares regional […]
The humble orange traffic cone’s good news story
During an acceptance speech at Friday night’s Southland Business Excellence Awards Traffic Management Services Ltd owner Kerrian Simpson, in jest, was happy to poke some fun at himself. It’s fair to say the humble orange traffic cone has had a difficult year, as politicians and the public alike have lined up for a crack at […]
Traffic management company wins top gong at Southland Business Excellence Awards
Southland’s largest specialist traffic management provider, Traffic Management Services, has won the supreme award at the 2025 Southland Business Excellence Awards. The company was one of many celebrated at a sold-out gala at Invercargill’s Ascot Park Hotel on Friday night, bringing together more than 400 business leaders, supporters and sponsors. A Southland Business Chamber statement […]
Mayoral candidates share views ahead of October elections
In the lead-up to the October 2025 local government elections, a group of small business owners, part of the Southland Business Chamber’s Business Owners Breakfast (BOB) Connect, invited prospective mayoral candidates for both Invercargill City Council and Southland District Council to respond to key questions that matter most to local enterprise. The resulting paper, now […]
Encouraging to see confidence climbing
The August 2025 Southland Business Confidence Survey shows a lift in local confidence compared to earlier this year, with businesses expressing more optimism about the region’s outlook and their own performance. Three-quarters (76%) of respondents are confident in their ability to deal with disruption (up from 57% in May 2025), while 67% expect the Southland economy to […]
Chamber Link – August edition now live!
Kia ora, The August edition of Chamber Link is now live – and it’s packed with Southland business success, practical insights, and updates to support you and your business. 👉 Click here to read Chamber Link – August 2025 Inside this issue: Here’s a taste of what’s inside: From the CEO: Sheree Carey shares regional […]
Business Chamber: Economic talk lacking at council table
“I’ve only had one candidate reach out to me to talk about what business would like to see around the council table.” Southland Business Chamber CEO Sheree Carey has been surprised by a lack of engagement from Invercargill mayoral candidates on what the council could do to help businesses in the city. Carey also told The […]
Your July 2025 Chamber Link is here
Kia ora, The July edition of Chamber Link is now live – and it’s packed with local success, business insights, and practical updates to support you and your business. 👉 Click here to read Chamber Link – July 2025 Inside this issue: From the CEO: Sheree Carey shares wins, future focus & new regional momentum […]
Sentiment shifts as Southland businesses balance caution with confidence
Business confidence in Southland has softened since earlier in the year, with many local enterprises signalling a more cautious approach amid persistent operating pressures. The findings, drawn from the latest Southland Business Confidence Survey conducted by the Southland Business Chamber from 12 to 30 May 2025, show a decline in overall sentiment but also highlight […]
Chamber Link – May 2025
Kia ora koutou, Congratulations to Chris Hughes, who has been re-elected as Chair of the Southland Business Chamber, and to Melissa Dykes, who will carry on in the role of Deputy Chair. Their leadership, insight, and commitment to Southland’s business community will be instrumental as we head into a pivotal period of strategic renewal. As […]
Building capability across our communities
This commitment has been strengthened for the coming year with a $15,000 general grant from Community Trust South enabling the Chamber to establish a Capability Investment Fund, and continue running its Building Capability Series of training workshops.
Chamber Link – April 2025
Kia ora and welcome to the April edition of Chamberlink. This month we’ve been proud to spotlight some of the incredible innovation and development happening right here in Southland. We recently hosted two events showcasing the Datagrid NZ project, which aims to open the country’s most significant data centre by 2028 in Makarewa. The first […]
Business Chamber launches ‘Reece McDonald Local Legend Award’
The Southland Business Chamber has launched a special new award as part of the 2025 Datagrid NZ Southland Business Excellence Awards — the Reece McDonald Local Legend Award. This people’s choice award honours the late Reece McDonald, former Board President of the Southland Business Chamber, who was not only a respected business leader but also […]
Southland exporters looking for opportunities in new US tariffs
Many Southland exporters are taking a “wait and see” approach to the United States’ new tariff regime, but believe the region won’t be as heavily impacted as others. US President Donald Trump has introduced a 10% tariff on top of existing tariffs to swathes of industries, but confusion reigns as exporters around the world try […]
Southland Business Chamber Board Announced for 2025/26
The Southland Business Chamber is pleased to unveil its newly elected board members for the 2025/26 term, reinforcing the Chamber’s commitment to fostering robust leadership and meaningful representation within the local business community. Following a strong turnout and competitive election process, the Chamber welcomes Breidi McStay, Marketing Manager at Windsor Architectural Hardware, as a newly […]
Datagrid eyeing 2028 opening of new data centre
Datagrid NZ is aiming to open the first phase of its US$2 billion (NZ$3.5b) data centre at Makarewa by 2028, but it’s still awaiting resource consent. The company is hoping that upcoming changes the to Resource Management Act will mean it’s resource consent to build on the land — which is classified as highly productive […]
Popular Southland party in Wellington returns
The event will bring together expat Southlanders, deep south residents, and those with strong ties to the region for some Southland hospitality in Parliament’s Banquet Hall. The iconic Southland Party is making its highly anticipated return to Parliament in Wellington in July this year. Southlanders and those with links to Southland are being encouraged to […]
Chamber Link – March 2025
Kia ora and welcome to Chamberlink. Southland businesses are starting the year with renewed confidence, as reflected in our latest Business Confidence Survey. Overall business confidence has surged by 17 points to +48, with 62% of businesses expecting a stronger regional economy over the next 12 months. Investment and employment prospects are also looking bright, […]
Chamber Charities
For the past three years, our team have been delivering Meals on Wheels every fortnight. Today, the staff adopted Ronald McDonald Family Room at Southland Hospital.
Networking a walk in the park
Connecting with like-minded business-people in Invercargill is now as easy as a stroll in the park, thanks to a new networking initiative. NetWalking, the brainchild of Southland Business Chamber events manager and Young Enterprise Scheme regional co-ordinator Leanne Humphrey, involves twice-monthly lunchtime walk-and-talk sessions around the city’s Queens Park. Humphrey said the aim was to […]
Business Confidence Survey
The survey for the quarter ending 28 February 2024 is now open and we ask you to take a few minutes to complete this.